Tropicultura (Jan 2003)
Correlation and Path Coefficients of Seed and Juvenile Characters with Respect to Latex Yield in Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg
Abstract
Ten Hevea clones were evaluated for direct and indirect effects of sixteen seed and juvenile characters on latex yield. Each clone was evaluated for five juvenile characters, eleven seed characters and latex yield. Genotypic variance and correlation were obtained through analysis of variance and covariance respectively. Phenotypic correlation was calculated as simple correlation of clonal means. The phenotypic correlation of each seed and juvenile character with latex yield was partitioned into direct and indirect effects through path analysis. The most reliable character for indirect selection for latex yield was ratio of seed length/width, which had relatively high direct effect and significant phenotypic and genotypic correlation with latex yield. This relationship had the stabilizing influence of ratios of seed/shell weight and seed weight/volume. The pattern of use of effect coefficients for simultaneous improvement of latex yield and associated characters is provided.
